Fire

The first fire was stolen long ago, all the stories say so. Fire was kept in Heaven, and we weren’t meant to have it. Fire was for Gods alone. But Men aspire to be Gods and steal fire to the Earth. Fire burns wood, fire smelts metals, fire bakes clay. The first sword man beheld was a sword of fire. All weapons are made with fire. Life can dwell in the earth, the water and the air, but not in the fire. Fire destroys life but life cannot live without fire. Fire is light and warmth. Fire keeps the night at bay and the beasts yield to it and those who wield it. Families gather around a fire and eat, and tell stories and play music. Fires are hearths, the focus is the fire. Without fire there is no family, no tribe, no people. All the cities that are first gathered around the fire. Fire is transient and comes into and goes out of the world, while the air, water and earth are continual in their presence. Fire is made with the hands but first comes from the mind-and it is with thoughts that the first fire was taken, with daring and consequence.